Beauty Articles

During pregnancy, Striae gravidarium, or stretch marks, is the most feared thing that can go wrong for a lot of expectant mothers. This is a common occurrence during pregnancy, with 50 to 90 percent of all expecting mothers being affected by some kind of apparent markings. It usually develops on the lower stomach area but can appear on the hips and thighs, on the breasts, and on the butt. When collagen is seperated from the epidermis it forms stretch marks. They can be light pink in hue all the way to a bright red or even purplish color in the later months of gestation.

There are several things you can do to promote the flexibility of your epidermis even though it is largely a hereditary disorder. Besides trying to maintain weight (which, while pregnant, is not advisable for the child's welfare) women can promote healthy skin by working out regularly, even during pregnancy. Women will naturally have to alter their physical routine while they are pregnant, but low impact and light cardio exercising is good for both mother and baby. Staying away from coffee and alcohol, limiting consumption of caffeine and carbonated sodas, and eating as nutritiously as possible are steps that women should take during pregnancy. Expectant mothers should also avoid cigarettes during the whole pregnancy period.

Striae gravidarium can be dry and irritated as well as unsightly even though they are not painful. They are caused when the skin is stretched and altered faster than the collagen fibers can sustain it. Genetic make-up, unfortunately for some, is the main component when it comes to getting striae gravidarium. There is a high chance you will be affected by them if your mother and aunts or siblings had them. Besides genetic make-up, other factors that cause stretch marks are nutrition, activity level, and lifestyles.

To avert and counter stretch marks women need to try to make their epidermis as elastic as possible. Consuming plenty of water daily gaurantees well hydrated skin that pulls more easily. 1000 mg of vitamin C daily is advised to boost the immune system and maintain the skin at maximum health. Use a sun blocking cream when going outdoors to avoid skin spots and highlighting marks. Applying a moisturizer to keep the skin moist and supple is also advisable. Because too much stress can cause breakdowns in the immune system it is recommended to partake in some type of anti-stressing activity such as stretching, cardiovascular activity, and meditation.

Obese people as well as bodybuilders can also develop striae gravidarium. With rapid bodily changes, the skin does not have time enough to adapt to the fluctuations in weight. Developing muscle too fast results in stretch marks for weight lifters. Someone can also get them from applying creams and solutions that have steroids for an extended period of time. The good news is that even though they might be darker in appearance at first, they will usually recede and become lighter and less noticeable after a little while.

Many products claim to make stretch marks dissipate and fade away by healing and keeping them from coming in the first place. While usually unproven to have any lasting effects, some of them may do a little good. There are many surgical techniques, but they can be time consuming and costly. For a number of women the only way to counter striae gravidarium is to get the assistance of a doctor. This kind of surgery is not recommended until later because often the body will still have some growing or alternating to do.